Georgia workers' comp for cleaning contractors in 2026, and the $800 weekly ceiling that runs through June

How workers' comp works for janitorial in Georgia

Georgia is an NCCI state with a competitive private insurance market and no state fund. The Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation (SBWC) administers all claims and enforcement. Georgia is notable for setting its weekly indemnity benefit caps through multi-year statutory increments rather than annual SAWW-based resets — the current $800/week TTD maximum has been in effect since 7/1/2023 and runs through 6/30/2026. Georgia requires employers with three or more employees to carry coverage. The SBWC conducts active employer compliance audits and operates an electronic coverage verification system.

Class code and rate (2026)

• Code 9014 — Janitorial Services by Contractors, No Window Cleaning Above Ground Level & Drivers. Georgia is an NCCI loss-cost state. Indicative market rate from national carriers: approximately $1.79/$100 payroll — competitive for the Southeast region.
• Code 9170 — Janitorial with above-ground window cleaning. Higher rate; separate payroll required.
• Code 9015 — Buildings operated by owner/lessee (in-house janitors). Lower exposure; rarely applied to contract cleaning firms.

Indemnity benefits (Georgia 2026)

• Max weekly TTD/PTD/death: $800 (effective 7/1/2023 through 6/30/2026 per O.C.G.A. §34-9-261; Constangy 2025–2026 GA WC Summary).
• Min weekly: $50.
• Waiting period: 7 calendar days; first 7 days paid retroactively if disability exceeds 21 days (O.C.G.A. §34-9-261(b)).
• TTD duration: 400 weeks maximum for non-catastrophic injuries; lifetime for catastrophic injuries (§34-9-261(c)).
• TPD (temporary partial disability): max $533/week (66.67% of difference in wages; 350-week maximum).
• PPD: same rate as TTD up to 400 weeks; body-part schedule applies.

Coverage thresholds and exemptions

• Mandatory for employers with 3 or more employees (O.C.G.A. §34-9-2); part-time employees count toward the threshold.
• Exempted: farm laborers, domestic servants, certain railway employees.
• Independent contractor test: Georgia uses a "right to control" test; janitors working under a service contract are typically employees.

Failure-to-insure penalty

Under O.C.G.A. §34-9-18, an employer who refuses or willfully neglects to maintain required coverage is guilty of a misdemeanor, subject to a fine of $1,000–$10,000 or up to 12 months imprisonment, or both. The SBWC may also assess a civil penalty of $500–$5,000 per occurrence, award the injured worker a 10% increase in all compensation, and order payment of the worker's attorney's fees.

Cost drivers specific to janitorial in Georgia

• Top injuries (BLS NAICS 561720): slips/falls (especially in commercial kitchen and hospital cleaning), back/shoulder strains, chemical exposure from industrial cleaning products.
• Georgia's $800/week TTD cap severely limits maximum indemnity exposure compared to Northeast states (e.g., Connecticut at $1,716/week) — a meaningful advantage for self-insured plans and high-deductible policies.
• Bid-math note: at ~$1.79/$100, load WC at approximately 1.8% of gross wages in Georgia bids. The $800/week cap means even total-disability claims have capped severity.
• Experience mod credibility threshold in Georgia: typically $7,500 in expected losses (NCCI threshold); small janitorial firms below this run on manual rates.

Primary sources

• Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation
• SBWC Employer Information (Coverage Requirements and Penalties)
• NCCI Class Code Lookup
• BLS NAICS 561720 Injury Data